Alexander dallas



{No.Model.)

l A. DALLAS. HBRNIAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

.W/TNESSES.' Y NVENTH f M ffam/ v 4 Arron/EVS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER DALLAS, OF YORK, N. Y.

HERNIAL, INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 505,818, dated October3, 1893.

Application iiled October 3l, 1892. Serial No. 450.579. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER DALLAS, of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented a new and useful SurgicalInstrument for use in Hernial Surgery, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

The object ofthe invention is to produce an instrument for insertion inthe inguinal or femoral canals, and so constructed as to be capable ofan abrasive or an incisive action on the internal ring` and the canals,to the end that the same may be closed or obliterated by agglutination.

The invention consists in the novel features hereinafter particularlydescribed and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all-the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of my irnproved instrument, showingashield forming part thereof in position to cover the abrasive orincisive surface of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a similar view with theshield in position to expose the abrasive or incisive surface. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of theshield and its operating rod; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1.

My improved instrument in the particular embodiment thereof illustratedin the drawings, comprises ahead a, having an elongated handle b, anabrasive or incisive surface c, for forming incisions or cuts in theinternal ring and the inguinal or femoral canals, and a shield d forcovering the said surface while the instrument is being inserted.

The head a is made somewhat ilattened for its ready insertion, and alongone side edge thereof is a groove e, such grooved edge being for thepurpose of receiving and protecting the spermatic cord or femoral veinwhen the instrument is being manipulated.

The abrasive or incisive surface c in the form shown is in the form ofnumerous pricks or short, needle pointed spurs, on one side edge and theopposite fiat faces, whereby numerous abrasione will be made. l do nothowever, limit myself to this particular surface,

as any equivalent means for cutting, abrading, or otherwise fresheningthe canal to cause agglutination, may be employed and are included inthe term abrading or incisive surface.

In the particular embodiment of my inven-V tion shown in the drawings,the handle b is made hollow, as best shown in Fig. 3, for receiving theoperating rod f of the U-shaped shield d, the latter being joined to itsrod by the head or cross piece g, which in the movement of the shieldlongitudinally of the instrument, moves in the through slot h, of head0,. The operating rod f may be arranged in any proper manner tofacilitate its longitudinal movement to move the shield; in the formshown it is bent at right angles to project through a lateral opening vlin handle b, the projecting endj of the rod thus forming a handle formanipulating the rod.

In the operation of curing rupture by obliterating the inguinal or thefemoral canal, an incision is made opposite or adjacent to the externalring of the inguinal canal or over the saphenous opening of the femoralcanal, sufiicient for the head a of the instrument to enter suchexternal ring or opening, and the instrument is entered in the canaluntilits head a projects into the abdominal cavity. While the instrumentis being inserted the shield d is maintained in position over theabrasive or incisive surface, and the grooved side edge is presented tothe spermatic cord (or the femoral vein). The instrument having beeninserted, the rod f is manipulated to withdraw the shield d fromthesurface c. The instrument is now withdrawn bodily, and as the cuttingpoints engage the walls of the canal, they will abrade the same,fresheni'ng their surfaces.A The operation having been thus performed, asuitable compressive pad is placed on the body over the canal andsuitably bandaged, and maintained in position until the canal isobliterated by agglutination, the instrument in its retrograde movementbeing closely followed and the frestr ened surfaces immediately pressedtogether to prevent unnecessary eusion of blood.

The provision of a grooved edge or equiva- IOO lent guard for thespermatic cord or femoral vein precludes `any possible injury, and theshield for the abrasive or incisive surface, fa-

cilitates the operation and prevents unduev .Patent- 1'. A herniainstrument provided with a head adapted for entrance to the inguinalcanal or the like, said head having an abrasive surface, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

2. A hernia instru-ment comprising an elongated handle provided vvith ahead having an abrasive surface, and a movable shield for such surface,the shield having an operating rod extending to the rear of theinstrument, substantially as described.

3. A hernia instrument having a head adapted for entrance in theinguinal or femoral canals, and formed with an abrasive or incisivesurface and with a guard for protecting the spermatic cord or femoralvein, substantially as described.

4. A hernia instrument having a head adapted for entrance in theinguinal or femoral canals, and having alongitudinal groove therein forreceiving the spermatic cord or femoral vein, and having also anabrasive or incisive surface, substantially as described.

5. A .hernia instrument having a somewhat flattened head formed with alongitudinal groove in one side edge, and provided With spurs on itsopposite side edge and on the flat surfaces, and a U-shaped shieldadapted to cover said spurs and having means for ymoving the shield,substantially as described.

ALEXANDER DALLAS.

Witnesses:

J. L. MOAULIFFE, E. M. CLARK.

